Acid attack victim has first surgeries overseas

Aug 07, 2017 News

– as US-based charity mobilises support for Guyanese burn victims

Acid attack victim, Shondell Williamson, is on the steady but agonizing road to recovery.
With her sister, Latoya Williamson at her side and the assistance of Saving Hands Emergency Aid, (SHEA), the New Amsterdam Berbice native has been able to undergo some corrective surgery in the United States.
SHEA‘s Lori Narine reported that Shondell had her first of three scheduled surgeries on June 29, 2017.
According to Narine, the surgery focused on the areas around the eyes and lips.
“With regards to her eyes, the doctors operated to reopen her left eye, which was sealed close due to her injuries, and they prepared the surrounding areas for vision correction surgery.”
Narine explained that the patient will be meeting with her eye care team to begin her vision correction treatment on August 14, 2017.
“The doctor who will perform this surgery is one of the top three doctors in the field, and he is extremely optimistic that her vision can be restored.”
Narine said that Shondell’s road to recovery is a long one, but she is upbeat and grateful for the chance at a normal life.
Kaieteur News understands that phase three of her treatment will focus on further skin grafts and corrective surgeries after her vision correction treatment is completed. As such, the organization has been actively involved in activities to raise the funds to complete her treatment.

Shondell Williamson with her youngest son before the attack

Shondell Williamson needs assistance for follow up surgeries in the US.

Williamson was badly disfigured during an acid attack earlier this year. But despite her circumstances, the 29 year -old New Amsterdam Berbice native has maintained an optimistic outlook on life. The mother of two has learnt to smile through her pain and has shown resilience to regain a life of normalcy.
Williamson’s former spouse had doused her with acid. The couple who share two children together had recently broken up. Following the attack, the mother of two spent several weeks at the Georgetown Public Hospital fighting to save her sight.
Saving Hands Emergency Aid, (SHEA), a charitable organization based in the United States, is reaching out to the public in a bid to help others like Williamson regain a life of normalcy.
SHEA Charity is headed by US – BASED Guyanese, Lori Narine. The Charity has aided a number of Guyanese and Caribbean nationals obtain medical treatment in the US.
According to its website, SHEA is engaged in several activities to help persons with severe injuries like Williamson.
Among those on their current patient list is little Ranie Rogers and seven year- old Shazim Samad. Rogers suffered burn injuries to her head, face and upper body in a cooking accident at home when she was 16 months old. She was left with open wounds for two years, until SHEA Charity learned of her plight.
SHEA accepted Ranie’s case in late August 2016, and on October 14, she traveled to the US, where she immediately began treatment.

Shazim Samad and Ranie Rogers also need help to complete their treatment.

Ranie spent a total of four weeks in treatment and returned to Guyana a brand new person. Since her return she has enrolled in school and can now play with her friends; something she could not do prior to her treatment. Ranie is scheduled to travel once again to the US for further treatment, part of which will include surgery to re-form her ear which has been fused to her head during her burn injury.
Much like the others, Shazim Samad has undergone over 10 surgeries in the past 19 months; three of which were lifesaving. On December 19, 2015, Shazim was severely burned when an aerosol can exploded in a heap of burning garbage next to where he was playing, causing his clothes to catch on fire.
SHEA Charity has assisted Shazim throughout his treatment to recover, but he is still in need of corrective surgeries. Shazim will once again travel to the US on September 16, 2017 for treatment; his fourth sponsored travel to the US.
Beating the odds and surviving three life threatening complications, the organisation described Shazim as a fighter who is now enrolled in school and aspires to be a doctor so that he can help other children.
But because of the many patients needing aid, SHEA has very limited funding.
The organization is therefore seeking assistance from the public to help cover some of Ranie’s expenses.
In an appeal to the public, Narine reminded that SHEA is funded by donations from the public on a case by case basis; “therefore, we are once again asking for your help.”